Matt Murray is going to be more than ready for the riggers of the college baseball season.
The 19-year-old native of Red Deer is playing full-time with the Sunburst League Red Deer Riggers and as much as he can with the Western Canadian Baseball League Sylvan Lake Gulls.
Both seasons end in August then Murray will head down to Colby Community College in Kansas on Aug. 15.
With Jason Chatwood as head coach of the Gulls and Jaret Chatwood coaching the Riggers it’s been an easy road to play on both teams, says Murray.
“Having them as coaches works out well in scheduling where I’m going to be at on certain days … on the road or home with the Gulls and here with the Riggers,” he said.
He’s played 13 games with the Gulls this season and has a solid .293 batting average in 41 at bats with a double, home run and nine RBIs. The Riggers stats were unavailable, but he’s one of the premier hitters on the team and has a pair of home runs, although he doesn’t see himself as a home run hitter … yet.
“Not really. I need to put on a little more weight to get to that level,” he said. “I’m more a contact hitter. If I hit for average with some power that’s awesome.”
The number of games does take its toll, although he prepared himself in the off-season.
“If you take care of yourself it’s fine,” he said. “Maybe if I have a rough weekend I may feel it a bit.”
Despite all the games Matt still works out every day.
“I go to St. Joe’s every morning at 8:30 and hit balls for an hour or so, then to work at 12:30 for an eight-hour shift.”
Murray spent last winter at home, taking a gap year after graduating from St. Joseph’s High School, where he attended the baseball academy, run by his father Scott and Jason Chatwood.
‘Taking a gap year was huge for me.
“I was able to put on some weight and able to work so that when I get to college I’m not just living the full college broke life,” he said with a laugh.
Colby has a history of having a number of Canadians, and especially from Red Deer, on their roster. Murray expects to play his normal position, shortstop, down south.
“I expect so. From what I hear there will be a lot of freshmen this year and a lot of Canadians, so it will be like home,” he said.
As for being at home, it’s in his blood to play for the Riggers.
His grandfather, Doug, played senior baseball in Red Deer, while Scott was a star with the Riggers.
“It runs in the family,” Murray added smiling.
Murray starred for the Red Deer Carstar Braves U18 AAA team last year and did see limited time with the Riggers.
“Last year I played briefly and they had a number of older guys so it was a bit intimidating,” he said. “This year I’m a regular. It’s a lot of fun to be part of the team rather than just showing up every couple of weeks. There’s a lot more chemistry.”
The Riggers are also in the midst of a changeover with a number of younger players moving in, mainly out of the St. Joe’s Academy.
“It’s slowly a transition era,” said Murray. “The older guys are moving out and the younger guys are moving in. It should be good for least 10 more years. In fact I can see in the next five years a whole new team of young guys moving in, who are happy to play.”
Murray believes, and rightly so, that the Academy has been huge for baseball in central Alberta.
“Baseball has really taken off … in fact in all of Alberta,” he said “There are so may guys going to the States. Before there were a limited number, now everybody has an opportunity to play … it’s huge for us.”
Being able to work out all winter gives Canadians an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with their American teammates.
“They play so many more games than we do, so having a chance to work out in the winter and to play for two teams it maximizes my at bats and time in the field. That helps so much heading south.”
With baseball now into July it’s getting closer to clutch time.
“I can’t wait,” said Murray indicating the Gulls in the playoffs and Riggers in the playoffs/provincials.”
The Riggers tournament is also on the horizon, July 19-21 at Great Chief Park.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca